If you drive up Parley’s Canyon and take the exit toward East Canyon, you’ll see it. Most people just blink and miss it. They’re usually too focused on getting to Park City for a ski weekend or heading toward the bigger, louder waters of Jordanelle. But tucked away at an elevation of roughly 5,400 feet, Little Dell Reservoir sits like a glassy, emerald-colored afterthought. It’s quiet. Real quiet.
Honestly, that’s exactly why the locals love it.
You won’t find any roaring wakeboard boats here. No jet skis screaming across the surface. Because Little Dell is part of the Salt Lake City watershed, gasoline engines are strictly banned. It’s a place for the silent types—kayakers, fly fishermen, and people who just want to hear the wind through the gambel oak without the smell of exhaust fumes.
The Weird History of Little Dell Reservoir
Most people assume the reservoir was built just for fun. It wasn't. The history is actually kind of intense and rooted in fear—specifically, the fear of drowning Salt Lake City.
Back in the early 1980s, Utah got hit with some of the most devastating floods in its recorded history. You might have seen the old photos of State Street being turned into a literal river. To prevent that from happening again, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers teamed up with the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake & Sandy. They finished the Little Dell Dam in 1993. It was a massive project involving millions of cubic yards of earthfill.
But it wasn't just about flood control. It was about thirst. Salt Lake City is a desert. We need every drop. Little Dell stores water from Dell Creek and diverted flows from Mountain Dell Creek. This isn't just a pretty lake; it’s a giant emergency straw for the valley. Because it’s a municipal water source, the rules are way stricter than at your average state park.
What You Can (And Absolutely Cannot) Do Here
Let’s get the "don'ts" out of the way first, because the rangers do not play around. Since this is drinking water, there is no swimming. None. Don't even put your toes in. If you have a dog, leave them at home or keep them in the car; dogs are strictly prohibited in the watershed to prevent Giardia and other nasty stuff from getting into the supply.
💡 You might also like: Where to Stay in Seoul: What Most People Get Wrong
So, what’s left? Plenty, if you like slow-paced recreation.
- Non-motorized boating: Think canoes, paddleboards, and kayaks. If it doesn't have a motor, you’re usually good to go. The water is often remarkably still in the mornings, making it a dream for stand-up paddleboarding (SUP).
- Fishing: This is a big one. Little Dell is a bit of a sanctuary for the Bonneville cutthroat trout. It’s a "catch and release only" spot for the cutthroats, and you have to use artificial flies and lures. No worms. No powerbait.
- Wildlife watching: Because the area is protected, the animals are everywhere. It’s not uncommon to see moose wading in the shallows near the inlets. Keep your distance—moose are way grumpier than they look.
The Fishing Scene: Why It’s Actually Challenging
If you’re a fisherman, you know that "catch and release" often means the fish are smarter than you. The Bonneville cutthroats in Little Dell have seen every fly in the Orvis catalog. They’re finicky.
I’ve spent hours there watching 18-inchers swim right past a perfectly presented woolly bugger. They know the game. To have success here, you have to be subtle. Most local experts suggest using tiny midge patterns or small terrestrial mimics like ants and beetles during the mid-summer heat.
The reservoir also holds some brook trout and occasional browns that have washed down from the higher creeks. But the cutthroat is the king here. It’s a native species, and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) works hard to keep this population stable. It’s basically a high-altitude nursery for the state fish of Utah.
Hiking and The Mormon Pioneer Trail
The geography around Little Dell Reservoir is historically heavy. You’re literally standing on the path where the Mormon pioneers moved toward the valley in 1847.
The Mormon Pioneer Trail runs right past the reservoir. If you hike the section from Little Dell up toward Big Mountain Pass, you’re walking the same grade the wagons took. It’s a brutal climb. Doing it in a modern SUV is easy; imagining it with a handcart and a pair of worn-out boots gives you a whole new level of respect for those folks.
📖 Related: Red Bank Battlefield Park: Why This Small Jersey Bluff Actually Changed the Revolution
The vegetation is classic Wasatch Back:
- Scrub oak that turns a fiery orange in late September.
- Sagebrush that smells like heaven after a summer rain.
- Stands of aspen as you get higher toward the ridge lines.
The birding is also top-tier. You’ll see ospreys diving for fish, and if you’re lucky, a golden eagle circling the thermals over the dam.
Access and Logistics: Don’t Get Stranded
Getting there is easy, but there are some quirks. You take I-80 East from Salt Lake, exit at Highway 65 (the East Canyon exit), and follow it for a couple of miles.
There is a day-use fee. Usually, it’s around $10 per vehicle. They have a self-pay station, so bring cash or be ready to use the QR code system if the cell service is behaving that day. Speaking of cell service—it’s spotty. Don't rely on it for navigation once you head further north toward East Canyon State Park.
The gates generally open at 8:00 AM and close at dark. If you’re still inside when they lock the gate, you’re going to have a very long, very expensive phone call with the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s office.
Winter at Little Dell
When the snow hits, the reservoir transforms. The road stays plowed for a bit, but the water freezes solid. While you can’t ice fish here (remember, it’s a protected watershed with specific seasonal closures), the area becomes a prime spot for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
👉 See also: Why the Map of Colorado USA Is Way More Complicated Than a Simple Rectangle
The silence in winter is deafening. Without the hum of the freeway, which is muffled by the ridges, you feel like you’re hundreds of miles away from the city instead of just fifteen.
Why People Get This Place Wrong
A lot of people complain that Little Dell is "boring" because they can't bring their boat or their dog. They’re missing the point. Little Dell isn't a party lake. It’s a recovery lake. It’s where you go when the noise of the Salt Lake Valley gets to be too much and you need to reset your internal clock.
It’s a place that demands respect for the environment because, quite literally, we drink what’s in there. That shared responsibility creates a different kind of atmosphere. You’ll notice there’s less trash on the banks. There’s less shouting. It’s a community of people who value the quiet.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
To make the most of a trip to Little Dell, don't just wing it.
- Check the DWR regulations: Before you cast a line, verify the current season's rules on the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources website. Regulations on tackle and possession can change.
- Bring a polarized lens: If you're paddleboarding or fishing, polarized sunglasses are a game changer. The water is clear enough that you can see the trout cruising the drop-offs.
- Timing is everything: Go on a Tuesday morning if you can. You’ll likely have the entire place to yourself. If you go on a Saturday in July, the small parking lot fills up by 10:00 AM.
- Pack it in, pack it out: There are limited trash facilities. Bring a bag for your snack wrappers and take them home with you.
- Layers are mandatory: Even in the summer, the canyon breeze can be chilly. The temperature at the reservoir is usually 5-10 degrees cooler than the valley floor.
Little Dell Reservoir represents a delicate balance between urban utility and wild spaces. It isn't the biggest body of water in Utah, nor is it the most famous. But for those who know how to appreciate a still morning and the sight of a cutthroat trout rising to a fly, it is exactly where they need to be.